Osteospermum plant named ‘Doostmarec’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Doostmarec’, characterized by its compact, uniform and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and uniformly branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; large single-type inflorescences with light purple-colored ray florets with a reddish purple-colored central ring; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOOSTMAREC’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Nov. 12, 2020, application number 2020/2854. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doostmarec’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the program is to create and develop new vigorous Osteospermum plants that are freely and uniformly branching with numerous large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor during the winter of 2013 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number QQ11-000026-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Fidostnanopi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,436, as the female, or seed, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Doostmarec’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doostmarec’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Compact, uniform and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely and uniformly branching habit.     -   4. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Large single-type inflorescences with light purple-colored         ray florets with a reddish purple-colored central ring.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are light purple in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are lilac in color.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Fidostnanopi’, in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are light purple in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Fidostnanopi’ are purple in color.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Passion White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of ‘Passion White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum have larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘Passion White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Passion White’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Passion White’ differ in         ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new         Osteospermum are light purple in color with a reddish         purple-colored central ring whereas ray florets of plants of         ‘Passion White’ are white in color with a violet-colored central         ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doostmarec’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer autumn in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C., night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 14° C. and light levels averaged 135 watt/m². Plants were pinched five weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings and plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph was taken and 18 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Doostmarec’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number             QQ11-000026-004, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis             ‘Fidostnanopi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,436. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 25 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, uniform and mounding             plant habit; relatively short internodes, dense and bushy             growth habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching             habit, about four primary lateral branches each with about             two to six secondary lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length: About             16 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 4 mm to             5 mm. Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144B.             Color, developed: Close to 144A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.             Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Spatulate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Senate and lobe with             shallow and divergent sinuses. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Pubescent; leathery; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; slightly             dull. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to N137C. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137C; venation, close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and aspect.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences;             inflorescences positioned beyond the foliar plane on strong             peduncles and face mostly upright to outwardly; single-type             inflorescence form with lanceolate-shaped ray florets and             tubular disc florets; ray and disc florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit; about 12 to 24 open             inflorescences per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—In The Netherlands, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from spring until first             frost in the autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about 70 to 91 days after sticking cuttings.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about one week             on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2 cm to 10 cm, depending             on stage of development. Diameter: About 7 mm to 10 mm,             depending on stage of development. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle height: About 7 mm.             Receptacle color: Close to 137B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 22 arranged in one to two whorls. Length: About             3.1 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Towards             the apex, close to 75C; center, close to 155D; towards the             base, close to 70B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             177A; venation, close to 177D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Towards the apex, 75A; center distally, close to 75A; center             proximally, close to 75D; towards the base, close to 70B;             venation, close to 72A; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 164B; venation distally, close to 177B; venation             proximally, close to N88A; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 56 arranged in about five whorls. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular with five pointed             apices. Apex: Dentate. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When developing, inner             surface: Close to 79A. When developing, outer surface: Close             to 8D. Fully developed, inner surface: Close to 79A. Fully             developed, outer surface: Close to 77C.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 18 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly             slanting. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to             200A. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.             Stigma diameter: About 0.2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 200A.             Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 200A. Ovary             color: Close to 144D.         -   Fruits/seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has not             been observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Doostmarec’ as illustrated and described. 